Category Archives: social networking

Aha, it has arrived—my seventieth birthday. Pictured is part of the detritus of a party that will not happen. A few days ago, I called off the 70’s Fondue Extravaganza Slumber Party and Games Night that I had planned. At that time, I was so sick with some mysterious intestinal and stomach disorder and I didn’t have the energy to do the last minute preparations—plus I feared I’d still be ill and have to call it off at the last minute. In addition, Yolanda was with her husband in the hospital and I didn’t have her to fall back on as usual. At any rate, I’m feeling better today and so I’m meeting a few friends for an impromptu comida at a restaurant and chocolate fondue at Blue’s house later, so there will be some celebrating done. This morning brings the welcome messages from friends on Facebook and I really do appreciate them, but as usual, they, combined with the daily prompt, have brought me to reflection.

I hope no one is offended by the below poem. It is meant in no way to disparage the very welcome communication with old friends that such a day brings. On the other hand, I can’t help but reflect on how our world changes and changes and how the cyber networks have not only brought us closer together but made it easier to drift farther apart. I am as guilty if not guiltier of this than anyone else I know. This is not an indictment, but rather a pondering over where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going—the sort of pondering one does at the age of 70, and if one is a writer or artist, probably at a much earlier age as well:

Facing up to Facebook

Facebook quips and tweets with hasheshave replaced the dot dot dashesof telegrams we used to sendto functions we could not attend:birthdays and other days once meantto celebrate with an event.

But now we sit in different placespretending we’re exchanging faceswhen in fact, for many yearsour facial contact’s been in arrears.They might have better renamed “Facebook”“Those Who Have Vanished Without a Tracebook.”

It does not bring us face-to-face.That is simply not the case.Rather, it keeps us more alonethan even talking on the phone.Old friend, it’s good to hear from you.I know, there’s nothing more to do.

I’m just as guilty of it as you.
It’s what the whole world’s come to do.
We’ve simply moved too far apart
except in memory and heart.
It’s the new age’s way of seeing—avoiding closer you and meing.

Most social network intercourse
has wholesale flattery at its source.
We put our data in their places—
our successes and our faces—
then have a moment of probation
waiting for the approbation
to come flooding back in force,
most of it as praise, of course.

Back and forth the discourse goes.
Pro or con, the talking flows.
And in the main, the battery
of interchanges is flattery.
And the flaw in any compliment
is that it is only lent.
Whatever charm its giver may lack,
you’re expected to give it back!

Disclaimer:

(The prompt today was “Disagree,”
and of course, this narrator isn’t me.
I just made up this ornery cuss
who sits alone and judges us!)